Clinical Medicine at IgMin Research | Medicine Group

Background: Low Back Pain (LBP) is one of the most common diseases affecting many persons including Healthcare Professionals (HCPs). LBP affects the quality of work and daily activities in HCPs. However, many factors contribute to LBP including age, Body Mass Index (BMI) and working experience. Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of LBP and examine the potential risk factors associated with LBP in Chinese HCPs (surgeons and surgical nurses). Method: A cross-sectional survey performed from October 2023 to ...January 2024. Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPDS) was used to assess the rating of LBP impairment. As well as Ovako Working Posture Assessment System (OWAS) is used to assess the working postures of HCPs. In addition to five more questions with yes/no answers.Results: A total of 250 surgeons and surgical nurses were collected from six hospitals with a mean age of 45.8 ± 11.0 years old, 47 females and 203 males. The BMI was 25.07 ± 1.49 kg, and working experience was 20.30 ± 10.0 years. Working hours in a week range from < 50 to > 55 hours. However, the OWAS action category was 1 in 109, 2 in 107, 3 in 30, and 4 in 4 participants. The majority of participants with mild LBP (90.4%), half of them had neck pain, and 26% with knee pain. The QBPDS scores of HCPs with LBP were 10.88 ± 4.78. Moreover, the risk factors associated with LBP include long working hours and incorrect postures of the trunk and lower extremities. As well as notice the orthopedic surgeon was the highest risk among HCPs (p = 0.046, 0.005).Conclusion: LBP is a common disorder in surgeons and surgical nurses and is associated with different factors including age, work experience, BMI, and abnormal working posture.Read more

Background: There is an increasing focus on communication between doctors and patients, and recent systematic reviews argue that teaching doctors necessary communication skills benefits patients at large. Moreover, patients report the lack of communication as their second-leading complaint. Motivational interviewing has proved to be person-centered in healthcare in communication between patients and doctors.Aim: To examine how being inspired by motivational interviewing theory and using the Calgary Cambridge guide could improve medical students...' communication skills at the master level using a mixed-method approach.Methods: A cohort study with an exposed cohort compared to a non-exposed historical cohort. The participants were students in their sixth year of medical training from the Clinical Department of the University of Southern Denmark. The non-exposed cohort received laboratory training based on the Calgary Cambridge Guide. After this training, they participated in a two-month clinical "stay" and recorded two digital audio files of a real conversation with a patient about delivering information. The exposed cohort followed the same schedule but received additional special training in MI. All audio files were analyzed using the Motivational Interviewing Integrity method (MITI). An additional focus group interview was conducted to support the results.Results: Medical students demonstrated improvements in several essential areas of their communication style favorable to the MI approach, particularly empathy, and person-centeredness. The focus group interviews supported these findings.Read more

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing healthcare by enhancing patient outcomes, reducing costs, and increasing the efficiency of medical professionals. This mini-review explores the diverse applications of AI in healthcare, including disease diagnosis, personalized treatment plans, and patient survival rate predictions. AI technologies such as Machine Learning (ML), deep learning, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) are becoming integral to modern healthcare practices. These technologies enable earl...y disease detection, particularly in cases like cancer, by analyzing medical images and patient data, leading to more effective and personalized treatment strategies. Additionally, AI can predict patient outcomes by analyzing large datasets from electronic health records, providing valuable insights that can inform clinical decisions. However, the integration of AI in healthcare also presents significant ethical challenges. Issues such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, lack of transparency, and the potential for increased health inequalities need to be addressed. The World Health Organization (WHO) has provided guidelines emphasizing the ethical use of AI, highlighting the importance of designing AI systems that respect human rights and promote equity. As AI continues to advance, it is crucial to ensure its responsible and transparent use to maximize benefits and minimize risks. This review underscores the transformative potential of AI in healthcare while calling for vigilant ethical considerations to ensure that AI technologies are implemented in a manner that enhances patient care and upholds ethical standards.Read more

Teledentistry, the use of telecommunication technology to provide dental care and consultation remotely, has gained significant traction in recent years, particularly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This article explores the various applications, benefits, challenges, and future directions of teledentistry in modern dental practice. Emphasis is placed on its role in improving access to care, enhancing patient education, and supporting dental professionals through remote consultations and collaborations.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women worldwide. It can be spread when cancer cells get into the blood or lymph system and then are carried to other parts of the body. As it is one of the leading causes of death among women, this study aims to identify the most relevant risk factors for breast cancer through several prevention methods for early detection. The social impact of breast cancer is so strong that the World Health Organization (WHO) has established 19 October as International Breast Cancer Day. The pink ribbon is th...e symbol of this important day worldwide. The objective is precisely to raise awareness among the population about the disease and promote access to timely and effective diagnoses, checks, and treatments.Good prevention should be carried out through behavior or lifestyle modifications (e.g., diet, physical activity, alcohol limitation, etc.). Although, certain risk factors cannot be modified (e.g., aging, family history). Screenings are a fundamental tool to deal with breast cancer, even if sometimes they are not enough as in the case of interval cancers or in cases of particularly ambiguous presentation. Worldwide organizations recommend screening by means of ultrasound, mammography, and magnetic resonance, with appropriate follow-up for an abnormal screening test. To avoid overdiagnosis and overtreatment that can lead to long-term complications and false negatives, these screening differs by recommended ages and frequency. Identification of women at risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations is also recommended with a referral for genetic testing and, in the presence of dubious lesions, a biopsy is needed. In order to fight this disease, is important to act on time, so, information is fundamental. First of all, the female population should be conscious of risk factors and of the importance of breast examinations from a young age, lastly, they should be aware of the possibility of joining programs of free screening.Read more

Post-stroke aphasia and hand movement dysfunction are common and disabling conditions. Observations indicate that most patients with post-stroke aphasia also suffer from hand movement dysfunction. Research in human evolution, behavior, and neuroscience has revealed a strong connection between language function and hand-motor function, with the latter playing a critical role in language use. Consequently, there is an urgent need for the development of new, comprehensive, and efficient rehabilitation methods for post-stroke aphasia that is accomp...anied by hand dysfunction. One promising approach involves investigating the shared neural networks between language and hand function as a foundation for novel treatment methods. This article aims to review the current state of clinical research on comprehensive treatments for stroke-induced aphasia and hand dysfunction, as well as to explore their underlying neural mechanisms. The results of this study may provide a valuable reference for the advancement of treatment technologies that effectively address both dysfunctions and enhance clinical outcomes.Read more